Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Region III

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Susquehanna Valley Association of Pennsylvania Occupational Health Nurses (SVAOPHN), a local chapter of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the Susquehanna Valley Association of Pennsylvania Occupational Health Nurses hereby renew, in part, the Alliance signed October 24, 2006, and renewed October 16, 2010, with a continued emphasis on providing the Susquehanna Valley Association of Pennsylvania Occupational Health Nurses members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Through the Alliance, the organizations will continue to address hazards of distracted driving, the proposed rule on hazard communication (the globally harmonized system) and other safety and health concerns. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and the Susquehanna Valley Association of Pennsylvania Occupational Health Nurses recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals related to raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:
  • To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
  • To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on topics pertinent to occupational health nurses, to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
  • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of an OSHA alliance symposium on hazards of distracted driving, the medical monitoring implications of the new rule on construction cranes and derricks, and the proposed rule on hazard communication (the globally harmonized system).
  • Provide a presentation on what is new in OSHA and agency priorities at the Chapter's annual conference.
Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goal:
  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at SVAPOHN conferences, local meetings, or other safety and health awareness events. Provide an OSHA information booth at the Chapter's annual conference.
OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, training and education, and outreach and communication. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. OSHA team members will include representatives of the Wilkes-Barre Area Office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Either signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the written concurrence of both signatories.

Signed this day 29 of December 2010.





Mark Stelmack, Area Director,
Wilkes-Barre Area Office
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Daurice Holly, RN, COHN, CCM
Vice- President
Susquehanna Valley Association of  
Pennsylvania Occupational Health Nurses